Automatic valve



E. S. TEED.

AUTOMATIC VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 25, 1918.

Patented Nov. 23, 1920.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EARL s. 'rnnn, or AKRON, omo, .ASSIGNOR TO THE B. F. eoo'nnrcn COMPANY, or NEW YORK, n. "2., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC VALVE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented N 23 1920 Application filed-Tilly 25, 1918. Serial No. 246,743.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EARL S. Tnno, a citizen of the United States, residing at Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Automatic Valve, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple automatic non-return or check-valve device adapted tightly to seal the orifice controlled thereby when the valve is closed, and to afford a free opening under very slight differences of fluid pressure. Valves having these qualities are particularly demanded in conjunction with gas masks, but my invention may be employed in any situation to which it may be found adapted.

Of the accompanying drawings, 7 Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through the breathing fixture of a gas mask provided with my improved valve device.

Fig. 2 is a reverse plan View of the fixture. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section showing a modification.

In Figs. 1 and 2, 10 is a metallic fitting or,

breathing fixture adapted to be secured in an opening in the front of the face-covering of a gas mask, and formed with inhaling and exhaling passages 11, 12, the former being continued through the usual flexible tube 13 which connects with the chemical container. At the outer end of the exhaling passage 12, the fitting is formed with a laterally-projecting annular flange 14 adapted to enter and interlock with the internally-grooved base 15 of a valve-seat member 16. Said member is made of soft vulcanized rubber and is flaring or trumpet-shaped, its wall tapering in cross-section to a thin outer edge or lip of circular outline.

The valve proper is a convex soft-rubber disk 17 which tapers to a thin circular edge meeting the edge of the valve-seat member 16, the convexity of said valve and the nearly vertical position of its axis of movement providing for the escape of any collection of liquid over the valve. Valve .17 is formed on the upper end of a bellows-like or accordion member 18 of soft rubber which acts as a spring normally holding said valve with light pressure-against the seat member 16, said member 18, as here shown, having a single annularfold or corru ation and inclosing a chamber 19 which is vented by a number of small air openings 20 to prevent the formation ofan air cushion. The member 18 joins the valve 17 within the latters periphery so as to form a mushroom structure therewith, and is secured by a rivet button 21 to a perforated supporting plate or spider 22 secured in the outer end of a guard cup 23 which is formed integrally with the fitting 10.

In the operation of the device, owing to the large surface and marginal flexibility of the members 16 and 17, as well as the additional flexibility of the member 18, the valve 17 will yield and open to a very slight preponderance of air pressure in the passage 12 over the atmospheric pressure outside, thus making it easy to breathe through the exhaling passage. When the wearer of the gas mask inhales, the marginal lips of the members 16, 17 are pressed tightly together by the pressure of the outside atmosphere so as to avoid any substantial backward leakage of air, the atmospheric pressure being supplemented by the light seating pressure furnished by the spring member 18. The selfsealing properties as well as the ease of opening of this valve structure are greatly enhanced by reason of the fact that the flexible margins of both members 16 and 17 are annular in form, meeting in a closed curve, as distinguished, for instance, from a structure including a hinged valve or flap. NVhile the drawing shows the flexible marginal lips of both the valve and its seat turned outwardly from the central axis 'of said members, it will be understood that modifications of this arrangement are permissible.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3, the fitting 10 is formed with a horizontal exhaling passage 12, externally surrounded by a guard cup 23 and the inhaling passage 11 is slantingly located in branch connection below the passage 12*. The valve-seat member 16 andspring member 18 are ofthe same form as in Fig. 1, but the valve 17 is concave, the mode of operation, however, being substantially the same as already described.

Various other modifications may be made without departing from my invention.

I claim:

1. The combination of a discharge passage having a downwardly-opening mouth surrounded by a flaring soft-rubber valve-seat member terminating in a free, flexible, marspring engaging said member within the periphery thereof.

3. A valve device comprising a seat, a

disk-like valve member terminating in a thin 10 flexible lip adapted to rest thereon, and a hollow collapsible soft-rubber spring formed integrally therewith, within the periphery thereof.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 15 my hand this 15 day of July, 1918.

\ EARL s. TEED. 

